The actor praised director David Fincher's fearless approach to making the suspenseful thriller in a new interview with Esquire, admitting that even he was shocked upon seeing the final cut's powerfully graphic content.

Craig explained: "It's not that he simply showed me footage that was horribly graphic. It was stuff that was happening, or had happened. And somehow you don't see it. There's more than one way to sense violence. Much more powerful ways than seeing it step-by-step.

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"It's as adult as you can possibly make it. This is adult drama. I grew up, as we f**king all did, watching The Godfather and that, movies that were made for adults. And this is a $100 million R-rated movie. Nobody makes those anymore."

Craig added: "Fincher, he's not holding back. They've given him free rein. He showed me some scenes recently, and my hand was over my mouth, going, 'Are you f**king serious?'"

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo also stars Rooney Mara, Robin Wright, Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd, Christopher Plummer, Geraldine James, Joely Richardson and Goran Visnjic. The film will open in December 2011.